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REVIEW: G.I. Joe: Retalliation

The G.I. Joe team returns to fight evil in an American way. Led by Duke (Channing Tatum) and Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), the Joes must once again confront the evil that is COBRA. Always ready for a fight the Joes get cut out at the knees before the battle begins. Dark forces are swaying The White House and a political powder keg in Islamabad turn the world against the team.

Roadblock must pick up the pieces and continue the fight alongside Flint (D.J. Corona) and Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki). In need of guidance and an extra gun hand they search for the one and original "Joe" played by Bruce Willis.

Through much destruction, fighting and fun Ninja battles the Joes return to stand up to COBRA and the evil it has planted worldwide.

So let's begin the review of this Hasbro movie with a side of plot. Is it better than the first film, yes. That isn't saying much though. Much more stylized and better shot, this film tries to forget the past only to be drug down again by a poor plot and weak character arcs. Dwayne Johnson does his best to drag this film out of a meandering rut. Bruce Willis gives his regular action performance, but shows no real love for the character. And while I think director John M. Chu had some great ideas, they are few and far between leaving us with the feeling that everyone got a say in this production.

With that all being said, Young boys and perhaps girls are going to love it. It's a toy commercial wrapped in a happy meal with a big boy budget. Whether that budget surpasses the originals 300 million is up to you and as they say "Knowing is half the battle".

As a side note: 3d was fun, but not worth pushing the movie back from August 2012.